The Capitals kicked off the 2017 calendar year with a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators Sunday night at Verizon Center, thus sweeping the weekend back-to-back set. The win raised the Capitals record to 22-9-5. The Caps next play host to Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night at Verizon Center. Puck-drop is 7:00 PM.
Braden Holtby got the start in net for the Capitals. Mike Condon got the start between the pipes for the Senators.
Nate Schmidt was a healthy scratch for the Capitals. The Caps re-assigned forward Jakub Vrana to the Hershey Bears of the AHL on Sunday morning. Barry Trotz said the roster will go with 12 forwards for the immediate future.
The lines for Sunday night’s tilt with the Senators:
#Caps lines vs Ottawa: 8-19-77, 90-19-14, 10-20-65, 26-83-43. Defense: 27-74, 9-2, 44-88. Scratched: 4. Holtby vs Condon. #CapsSens
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) January 2, 2017
QUICK NOTES:
- Karl Alzner and Taylor Chorney scored the Caps goals as the Capitals defensemen continue to provide a significant percentage of scoring.
- Capitals defensemen are contributing to scoring at third highest rate in last 21 seasons. (Mike Vogel)
- Brooks Orpik had a season-high 7 hits. Assist, block in 18:30 TOI. 3 assists in last 2 games. (Adam Miller)
- The Capitals penalty kill has killed 29 straight penalties & 40 of their last 41.
- Andre Burakovsky continued his strong play since sitting out three games in December.
- The Capitals third line, centered by Lars Eller had a very strong game.
- Hard to believe: Karl Alzner and Evgeny Kuznetsov both have three goals for the season, on January 1, 2017.
- Taylor Chorney has three career goals. Two of them are game winners, including tonight’s third period goal. (John Walton)
FIRST PERIOD
A fairly even start to this New Year’s Day tilt. The Senators Kyle Turris quickly grabbed the attention of the Verizon Center crowd by wristing one off the post just 70 seconds into the contest. Ottawa lead in shots on goal 5-2 at the midway point of the period.
Taylor Chorney was called for the games first penalty, tripping, with 5:24 left in the opening frame, but the Capitals penalty kill would once again come up big, allowing no shots on goal. This was the 26th straight penalty kill without allowing a goal. The period would end scoreless, with shots on goal tied 8-8 for the opening frame.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoreless play continued for the first half of the second period. The Capitals went on their first power play of the game at the 9:26 mark of the middle frame, but the Caps could only manage a couple of shots from the perimeter, none of which dented twine. Moments later the Senators would light the lamp when Kyle Turris knocked in a closed ranger at the 12:41 mark of the second period.
Turris pots his 13th of the season. #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/uB6S8rhtub
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) January 2, 2017
Karl Alzner would tie the game 1-1 at 19:40 on a blast from the left point. This was Alzner’s third goal of the season.
Alzie starts the breakout, and finishes it. #CapsNewYearParty on @csnma pic.twitter.com/Gyw8Vn7i7U
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 2, 2017
The period would end with the game tied 1-1. The Caps outshot the Senators 9-7 for the second period, and 17-15 through two periods of play.
THIRD PERIOD
Taylor Chorney gave the Caps the lead on a blast from the right point just 2:43 into the final frame.
Theme tonight: shoot from the point. #CapsNewYearParty on @csnmapic.twitter.com/02rAVX9fDE
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 2, 2017
The Capitals penalty kill would fend-off a 5-on-3 for two full minutes when both Brooks Orpik and Evgeny Kuznetsov were called for simultaeous penalties at the midway point of the final frame. The Capitals would hold on for the 2-1 win.
By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps
SCENES FROM VERIZON CENTER
Ridiculously long lines in the front of the Verizon Center. Why? #CapsSens#Capspic.twitter.com/6o4i5eGrGl
— LuvdCaps (@luvdcaps) January 1, 2017
And we’re off! #CapsNewYearParty is underway from Verizon Center. #CapsSens #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/QeGWSdXamd
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 2, 2017
#Caps kill it all off! Teams back at even strength with 9:50 remaining in the 3rd. #Caps lead 2-1. #CapsNewYearParty#RockTheRedpic.twitter.com/bSFd4sz6Sh
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 2, 2017
Victory March! #CapsNewYearParty#RockTheRedpic.twitter.com/0wTGG4tSda
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 2, 2017
No surprise who wins the #WillOverSkill robe tonight. #ChornsAlert #CapsNewYearParty pic.twitter.com/29PDifVzhR
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 2, 2017
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